Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Military:

400 Nevada soldiers return home from Afghanistan

1/221st Cavalry Squadron Honored

Justin M. Bowen

Lt. Col. John S. Cunningham was presented with a Bronze Star on Wednesday during a ceremony at the Mandalay Bay Events Center, where the Army Guard’s 1/221st Cavalry Squadron was honored after serving for one year on a security mission in Afghanistan.

1/221st Cavalry Squadron Honored

The Nevada Army Guard's 1/221st Cavalry Squadron was honored Wednesday during a ceremony at the Mandalay Bay Events Center after serving for one year on a security mission in Afghanistan. Launch slideshow »

More than 400 soldiers returned to Las Vegas today and were reunited with friends and family after a one-year deployment to Afghanistan.

Hundreds at the Mandalay Bay ceremony applauded as bag pipers kicked off the ceremony, welcoming the Nevada Army National Guard’s 1-221st Cavalry Squadron back home. The group was deployed in April 2009 on a security mission to help with reconstruction in Afghanistan.

Some soldiers wore black cowboy hats and spurs on their boots as a tradition to represent their squadron, said William Burks, Nevada’s adjutant general.

Family members dressed for the occasion, wearing “welcome home” T-shirts and carrying small American flags. One small boy wore a T-shirt that read, “Daddy is my hero.”

Renee West, president of Mandalay Bay, said like most of the families in the audience, she would get excited when her father returned home from active duty.

“As you return, you’ll find we need you here,” West said. “(We are) united for the troops but are divided by social and political views. You’ve been in our thoughts and prayers.”

Every soldier who was deployed came back safely, Lt. Col. Eric Wishart said.

Gov. Jim Gibbons and Rep. Dina Titus thanked the soldiers for their service.

“Today, we welcome home Nevada’s heroes,” Titus said. “If there’s anything we can do to return the service in some way, don’t hesitate to call us.”

Representatives for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Rep. Shelley Berkley, Sen. John Ensign and Rep. Dean Heller read letters to the soldiers.

Families rushed to the floor to greet loved ones after the ceremony ended with a prayer.

Maj. Mike Glynn rushed to his two daughters, Riley, 4, and Hailey, 7, wrapping them in his arms. His wife, Auri, said she was shaking with excitement before the ceremony.

Riley and Hailey were all smiles as they gripped their dad’s uniform and hugged him.

“They’ve been excited for days,” Auri Glynn said. “(Riley) woke up the other day and wanted to go back to sleep right away so she could wake up and get to see her daddy today.”

The ceremony also honored Sgt. Helman Roman with a Purple Heart and Lt. Col. John Cunningham with a Bronze Star. Tammy Richardson, leader of the Army Guard’s Family Readiness Group, was presented with a Nevada Commendation Medal for her role in helping families cope with the deployment.

Join the Discussion:

Check this out for a full explanation of our conversion to the LiveFyre commenting system and instructions on how to sign up for an account.

Full comments policy